Though much of the buzz on the Capitol earlier this week was about Gen. David Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker’s reports on Iraq, the hype this weekend was the march against the war that took place on Saturday.

Protesters gathered at the White House and marched to the Capitol. They were led by veterans of the Iraq war. Then, thousands of protesters fell to the floor in an act of civil disobedience meant to symbolize a mass funeral, or what they refer to as a “die-in”.

The Protest was organized by the ANSWER Coalition, a group working to stop the war in Iraq, as part of a “Week of Action.”

Several Orange County residents flew in to take part in the event. Activist Marylou Cabral from Cypress said she came to “represent what people want for the war, which is for it to end.”

“We (the American people) all want the war to end,” Cabral said. “Even between the conservatives and liberals there seems to be a general response on the war. Everyone seems to be on the same page this far into it.”

Cabral and Jorge Vera, a Santa Ana college student, are working on opening a chapter of the ANSWER coalition in Orange County. Cabral said the purpose of the chapter will be to spread the anti-war message in a county where they say there isn’t much “anti-war outreach.”

The protest isn’t the only event planed by ANSWER in collaboration with other groups, such as CodePINK and Iraq Veterans Against the War.

The following are some upcoming events:

• Monday:“People’s March in Congress” – CodePINK, a group advocating to end the war and redirect resources into health care and education, will rally on the steps of the Capitol. Afterward, they will lead protesters through House and Senate office buildings to rally in front of several Congressional offices.

“National Truth in Recruiting Day” – The Iraq Veterans Against the War and the ANSWER Coalition will hand out fliers in front of military recruitment offices.

• Tuesday:“Congressional Occupation Day” – Protesters and members of Grassroots America, will go to congressional offices in Washington, D.C., and across the country and “sit-in” until they are allowed to speak with their representatives.

For more information about the various other events visit: http://www.pephost.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=8555.

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